Commentary

80'

Embrose Papier sends the ball into touch inside the Hurricanes half of the field and the Bulls are in complete jubilation as they rush to the sidelines to celebrate victory over the 2016 Super Rugby champions- the Hurricanes. The Bulls have got their season off to the perfect start with a hard fought and well deserved 21-19 victory over the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

80'

FULL TIME: BULLS 21-19 HURRICANES

78'

The Bulls look to wind down the clock as they protect possession and take the ball into contact with pick and goes inside the Hurricanes 22.

77'

The Hurricanes concede the penalty for a dangerous tackle on halfway and Marnitz Boshoff sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder inside the Hurricanes 22.

76'

Conrad van Vuuren concedes the penalty for the Bulls inside the Hurricanes half for not releasing the ball at the breakdown. Beauden Barrett sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder on the Bulls ten metre line.

74'

Ihaia West finds Ngani Laumape with an accurate cross-field kick inside the Bulls half. The Bulls are equal to the task on defence as they are quick to close down the space and bring Laumape to ground. The Bulls are showing plenty of heart in the opening game of their 2018 Super Rugby campaign.

72'

Divan Rossouw sends the ball sailing wide of the poles from the attempted conversion just outside the Hurricanes 22 on the angle. The score remains at 21-19 to the Bulls.

71'

TRY, BULLS, SCHOEMAN! 21-19: Handre Pollard charges down the chip kick from Ihaia West and boots the ball up field. The chase is on as the Hurricanes are forced to track back into their own 22. The Bulls counter ruck and win the ball at the breakdown and the Hurricanes are short of numbers on the wing as Pierre Schoeman receives the pass on the wing and dots down for the try!

69'

The Hurricanes make a vital turnover at the breakdown as the Bulls go through the phases just outside the Hurricanes 22 and Ihaia West sends the Bulls tracking back into their own 22 with a kick up field. Johnny Kotze returns the favor with a kick up field into the Hurricanes 22 and finally the Hurricanes find touch just inside the Bulls half. The Bulls have the lineout.

67'

The game is still very much in the balance with three points separating the Bulls and the Hurricanes and with 13 minutes left to play the Hurricanes lead the Bulls 19-16.

66'

The Hurricanes concede the penalty for illegal binding in the front row at the scrum on the Bulls ten metre line and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder on the Hurricanes ten metre line.

65'

James O?Reilly is unable to throw straight at the lineout and the Bulls are awarded the scrum on their own ten metre line.

63'

The Bulls concede the free-kick for an early engagement at scrum time on the Hurricanes ten metre line and Blade Thomson taps and goes and looks to play quick from inside the Hurricanes half. Ihaia West puts bot to ball and finds touch just inside the Bulls half. The Bulls have the attacking lineout.

62'

The referee is not happy with how both teams are binding at scrum time and asks for a reset. The Hurricanes have another scrum on their own ten metre line.

59'

CONVERSION, HURRICANES, WEST! 16-19: Ihaia West adds the extra two points for the Hurricanes with an accurate kick at poles from the conversion from just outside the Bulls 22. The Hurricanes now lead the Bulls 19-16 with 59 minutes of the game played.

58'

TRY, HURRICANES, BARRETT! 16-17: TJ Perenara puts in the grubber kick for the Hurricanes backs to run onto inside the Bulls five metre line and Beauden Barrett makes an immediate impact for the Hurricanes as he chases well and dots down for the five pointer. The Hurricanes hit the front foot with that try.

57'

The Hurricanes play the wide channels from deep inside their own half as Gareth Evans comes away with the ball on the wing. The Bulls concede the penalty for an offside infringement and Beauden Barrett sets the lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder just short of the Bulls 22.

55'

Ricky Riccitelli concedes the penalty for the Hurricanes for going off his feet at the breakdown on the Bulls ten metre line. Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder on the Hurricanes 22.

54'

The Bulls look to take on the Hurricanes defence and run from their own ten metre line but they knock the ball forward and the Hurricanes have the attacking scrum on the Bulls ten metre line.

53'

Adriaan Strauss finds Lodewyk de Jager with an accurate throw at the Bulls lineout deep inside the Bulls half. The Hurricanes concede the penalty for collapsing the maul and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder on halfway.

51'

Ihaia West looks to vary the Hurricanes attack with a cross-field kick on the wing. The Bulls compete in the air and win the ball inside their own half and look to counter attack from deep.

50'

The Hurricanes concede the penalty for illegally binding at scrum time on the Bulls five metre line and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder on the Bulls ten metre line.

49'

The referee is not happy with how both teams are binding at scrum time and asks for a reset. The Bulls have another five metre defensive scrum.

48'

There is a massive battle going on at the breakdown as this time the Bulls concede the penalty on their own ten metre line for Lodewyk de Jager not releasing the Ball at the breakdown, Ihaia West sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder inside the Bulls 22. The Hurricanes win the ball at the lineout and Wes Goosen takes play to the Bulls five metre line with a well timed run before he is brought to ground. The Hurricanes recycle the ball and TJ Perenara snipes from close range, Perenara loses the ball forward on the line and the Bulls have the five metre defensive scrum.

46'

Roelof Smit gets first to the ball at the breakdown on the Bulls five metre line and the Hurricanes concede the penalty for not releasing the ball at the breakdown. Handre Pollard sets the lineout for the Bulls from the penalty with a touch finder just short of the Bulls ten metre line.

45'

Jesse Kriel concedes the penalty for the Bulls for an offside infringement just inside the Bulls half and the Hurricanes are searching for the five pointer from the penalty as Ihaia West sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder inside the Bulls 22.

44'

The Bulls knock the ball forward after some good pressure on defence from the Hurricanes and the Hurricanes have the attacking scrum on their own ten metre line.

43'

The Hurricanes concede the penalty for an infringement inside the Bulls half and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder just inside the Hurricanes half.

42'

The Hurricanes put the shove on at scrum time and send the Bulls tracking back. The Hurricanes are awarded the penalty for a dominant scrum and Ihaia West sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder just short of the Bulls 22.

41'

Ihaia West gets the second half underway for the Hurricanes with a deep kick into the Bulls 22. Andre Warner tests Matt Proctor under the high ball with the box kick and Proctor knocks the ball forward on the Hurricanes ten metre line. The Bulls have the scrum.

40'

HALF TIME: BULLS 16-12 HURRICANES

40'

PENALTY, BULLS, HANDRE POLLARD! 16-12: Handre Pollard sends the ball sailing through the poles with perfect technique from the kicking tee and that will be halftime. The Bulls lead the Hurricanes 16-12 at the break. Stay tuned for the second half which will follow shortly.

39'

The Bulls are looking for a morale boosting score just before the break as Vince Tavae ?Aso concedes the penalty for the Hurricanes for an offside infringement inside the Hurricanes 22. Handre Pollard lines up the kick at poles for the Bulls.

37'

High fives all around for the Bulls at scrum time as they send the Hurricanes tracking back at the scrum on the Bulls ten metre line. The Hurricanes concede the penalty for collapsing the scrum and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder inside the Hurricanes 22.

36'

Vince Tavae ?Aso and Ngani Laumape combine in centre field with quick passing as they draw in the Bulls defence but the Hurricanes knock the ball forward and the Bulls have the defensive scrum on their own ten metre line.

33'

Handre Pollard sends the ball sailing wide of the poles from the conversion attempt just outside the Hurricanes 22 on the angle. The score remains at 13-12 to the Bulls.

32'

TRY, BULLS, DE JAGER! 13-12: Jesse Kriel joins the line as first receiver and takes play to the Hurricanes five metre line with a good run from just outside the Hurricanes 22. The Hurricanes win the ball with a turnover at the breakdown and kick the ball up field and Travis Ismaiel sets the counter attack for the Bulls as he takes on the Hurricanes defence inside the Bulls half. The Bulls work their way into the Hurricanes 22 and Lodewyk de Jager receives the ball on the wing and shows plenty of pace and physicality to power over for the try in the corner.

29'

The Hurricanes win the ball at the scrum on their own five metre line and TJ Perenara makes the exit kick for the Hurricanes with a touch finder just short of halfway. The Bulls have the attacking lineout.

28'

Lodewyk de Jager jumps up and wins the ball against the throw for the Bulls at the lineout on halfway. The Bulls break up field and take play to the Hurricanes five metre line and Lodewyk de Jager picks and goes and is brought to ground just short of the line. RG Snyman thinks he has scored a try as he takes the ball over the line but the referee rules that the ball was held up over the line and the Hurricanes have the five metre defensive scrum.

25'

Ihaia West sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes from the penalty inside the Hurricanes half with a touch finder on halfway.

24'

YELLOW CARD, BULLS, SCHOEMAN! 8-12: Pierre Schoeman receives a yellow card and is sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for a dangerous tackle with a swinging arm in the tackle deep inside the Hurricanes half of the field. The Bulls are down to 14 players for the next ten minutes and they also concede the penalty.

23'

Johnny Kotze looks to join the line as first receiver and runs a good line but he is unable to hold onto the pass from Burger Odendaal on the Bulls ten metre line and the Hurricanes gather the loose ball and look to counter attack.

21'

The Hurricanes vary their attack with a grubber kick for the backs to run onto deep inside the Bulls half. The ball beats everyone into touch and the Bulls will have the defensive lineout deep inside their own half.

20'

Vince Tavae ?Aso with quick hands on the wing as he brings Julian Savea into play with an accurate pass. The Bulls are equal to the task on defence as they manage to close down the space and bring Savea to ground on the Hurricanes ten metre line.

18'

CONVERSION, HURRICANES, WEST! 8-12: The flags are raised! Ihaia West adds the extra two points for the Hurricanes as he sends the ball sailing through the poles with the conversion kick at poles from inside the Bulls 22. The Hurricanes now lead 12-8.

17'

TRY, HURRICANES, GOOSEN! 8-10: Wes Goosen puts in the chip kick behind the Bulls defensive line from inside the Hurricanes half. Goosen chases well and gathers the loose ball and runs all the way to dot down for the five pointer for the Hurricanes.

16'

The Hurricanes win the ball at the scrum inside their own half and Ihaia West makes the clearance kick for the Hurricanes with a kick up field. Divan Rossouw responds with a kick into touch on the full and the Hurricanes have the attacking lineout inside the Bulls half.

14'

High fives all around for the Bulls at the breakdown as they get to the ball first and the Hurricanes concede the penalty for not releasing the ball at the breakdown just outside the Bulls 22. Kotze got to the ball first at the breakdown and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for the Bulls with a touch finder just short of the Hurricanes ten metre line.

12'

Ihaia West sends the ball sailing wide of the poles from the conversion attempt just outside the Bulls 22 on the angle.

11'

TRY, HURRICANES, RICCITELLI! 8-5: Thembelani Bholi concedes the penalty for the Bulls for an offside infringement on the Bulls five metre line. The Hurricanes are going for broke from the penalty as TJ Perenara sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes with a touch finder on the Bulls five metre line. The Hurricanes win the ball at the lineout and get momentum from the driving maul and Ricky Riccitelli crashes over for the pushover try for the Hurricanes. Game on!

9'

Sublime handling skills from the Hurricanes as they force the Bulls to make the tackles inside the Bulls 22. TJ Perenara varies the Hurricanes attack with a cross-field kick on the wing. The Bulls knock the ball into touch as they compete for the ball in the air. The Hurricanes are awarded the penalty for an advantage that was being played for a previous infringement from the Bulls and Ihai West sets the attacking lineout for the Hurricanes from the penalty with a touch finder on the Bulls five metre line.

6'

PENALTY, BULLS, POLLARD! 8-0: Handre Pollard has his kicking boots on today as he sends the ball sailing through the poles with an accurate penalty kick at poles from the Hurricanes ten metre line. The Bulls now lead 8-0.

5'

Sam Lousi concedes the penalty for the Hurricanes for a shoulder charge in the tackle and Handre Pollard will strike for poles for the Bulls from the penalty on the Hurricanes ten metre line.

4'

Handre Pollard has the distance but he does not have the direction as he sends the ball sailing wide of the poles from the conversion attempt just outside the Hurricanes 22 on the angle. The score remains at 5-0 to the Bulls and the Hurricanes restart with the drop out from halfway.

3'

TRY, BULLS, KOTZE! 5-0: Try time! Handre Pollard takes the ball to the line and draws in the Hurricanes defence before the Hurricanes manage to bring Pollard to ground inside the Hurricanes 22. Jesse Kriel sends Johnny Kotze through for the try with a well timed pass on the wing and the Bulls lead 5-0 with the conversion to come.

2'

The Hurricanes win the turnover at the breakdown inside their own 22 and Ihaia West makes the clearance kick for the Hurricanes with a touch finder on the Hurricanes ten metre line. The Bulls have the attacking lineout.

1'

Referee Rasta Rasivhenge blows his whistle and Handre Pollard gets the game underway for the Bulls with a short hanging kick which travels just short of the Hurricanes 22. The Hurricanes win the ball in the air and Ihaia West makes the exit kick for the Hurricanes with a kick up field. Handre Pollard gathers the high ball and tests the Hurricanes under the high ball with the up and under. The Bulls chase well and win the ball in the air just outside the Hurricanes 22.

0'

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Super Rugby round two showdown as the Bulls and the Hurricanes do battle at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

0'

TEAM NEWS, BULLS: Bulls Head Coach John Mitchell originally named four Springboks in his starting team for their 2018 Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes, however now there will be three Springboks in the Bulls run on team after fullback Warrick Gelant suffered a knee injury and on Friday was ruled out of the match. Gelant has been replaced by Divan Rossouw who will make his Super Rugby debut. Wing Duncan Matthews earns a place on the bench. Mitchell has named two potential debutants on the bench for the clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Burger Odendaal will lead the team that includes Springboks, Jesse Kriel, Handré Pollard and Lood de Jager in the starting team, with two more capped players, Adriaan Strauss and Marnitz Boshoff, amongst those who will play off the bench against their New Zealand opponents.

0'

TEAM NEWS, HURRICANES: Three new caps have been included in the Hurricanes starting XV for their Super Rugby opener against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. Ihaia West has been given the starting spot at fly-half after his impressive pre-season form while former Wallabies prop Toby Smith will start at loosehead. The other new cap in the starting XV is Hawke''s Bay number eight Gareth Evans. He will start alongside experienced loose forwards Ardie Savea and Brad Shields who will also captain the side. Three more players will have the opportunity to make their Hurricanes debut off the bench, with head coach Chris Boyd naming prop Alex Fidow, lock Murray Douglas and halfback Jamie Booth among the reserves. There is no shortage of experience and class on the bench, with World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett joining the likes of Blade Thomson and Ben Lam.

HISTORY: The Hurricanes will be looking to make it four wins in a row against the Bulls and continue their good form in South Africa in recent seasons that has seen them win four of their five regular season matches in the Republic, the Hurricanes Super Rugby season ended with a semifinal defeat against the Lions at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg last season (2017).

0'

Bulls coach John Mitchell was keen to see the competition starting and his squad competing.
?The wait is finally over for us. We worked hard to get to this point and that work and progress will now be tested against one of the best teams in the competition. It is a tough way to start, but we would not want it any other way,? Mitchell explained.

0'

WEATHER: Grey skies welcome the teams onto the field. The stage is set for some big hits, well timed offloads and plenty of sidesteps.

HISTORY: The most recent match between the Bulls and the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria was in 2017 and on that occasion the Hurricanes won 34-20. The Hurricanes also beat the Bulls 17-13 in Pretoria in 2015 and 25-20 in Wellington in 2014.

0'

HISTORY: The last time the Bulls managed to beat the Hurricanes was in 2013 when they scored a 48-14 victory over the Hurricanes in Pretoria.